Mike Napoli #12 of the Boston Red Sox is congratulated by Dustin Pedroia #15 after hitting a three-run home run in the eleventh inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 26, 2014 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

With the game tied at 4-4, the Red Sox offense exploded in their second extra-innings game as in many nights. It all started when Mookie Betts led off with a single and then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Brock Holt reached on an error and then Dustin Pedroia capitalized on the error with an RBI single to break the 4-4 tie.

Then Napoli stepped up and sent a 0-2 fastball into the upper-deck to give the Red Sox an 8-4 lead. The designated hitter was pumped about the home run and complimented the team’s offensive output after the game.

He said, “We’re playing some fundamental baseball right there. Mookie hustling, getting the bunt down to get guys in scoring position. Pedey up there with the bases loaded and the infield in, you feel good about that situation. It’s all about the team working together to score runs and getting that timely hit when you need it.”

It has been the kind of offense the Sox have been lacking all year. What is more impressive is that it has come the last couple nights without the services of David Ortiz, who sat out his second consecutive game. The Red Sox got some insurance runs following Napoli’s blast. Allen Craig hit a two-run homer and the Sox added another to extend the lead to 11-7. The Blue Jays scored three times in the bottom of the 11th inning, so Napoli’s home run ended up being the deciding factor. Red Sox starter Rubby de la Rosa struggled in the start. He gave up three runs in only 4 2/3 innings.

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Tarringo T. Vaughan is an avid Boston sports fan. He has followed the Boston Red Sox since the days of Bruce Hurst, Ellis Burks, Dwight Evans, Mike Greenwell etc. Tarringo attends games at Fenway Park at least a couple times a year. In his three years as a General Sports Examiner, Tarringo has written many articles on the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots as both a fan and someone with knowledge of all three sports. Follow Tarringo on Twitter: @NESportsExamine Like his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NewEnglandSportsExaminer/info